The “For Sale” sign is
seen Tuesday morning at the site of the former
Gehl Manufacturing company in West Bend. John Ehlke/Daily News

WEST BEND — The Common Council on Monday night approved
seeking up to $500,000 in state grant funding to help
spur improvements at a disused former manufacturing site
near downtown.

The near-unanimous vote — one council member was absent
— marks the city’s first effort to acquire the Wisconsin
Economic Development Corporation’s idle sites
redevelopment program grant. The money would go towards
tearing out concrete slabs, which are all that remain of
the former factory, and revitalizing sewer, street and
other infrastructure near the onetime Gehl Manufacturing
center.

The site has gone unused for about a decade, and has
been completely vacant since the city several years ago
tore down the former factory at South Forest Avenue and
Water Street. Developers in the past have approached
West Bend about building multifamily housing units on
the 8-acre parcel, but those plans have fallen through.

The $500,000 grant would be the largest possible allowed
under the state economic development corporation’s idle
sites program, which authorizes grant funds up to that
amount to help jumpstart projects at disused or
abandoned properties.

City Administrator Jay Shambeau has said revitalizing
the site could cost an estimated $2 million, meaning the
potential WEDC grant would cover only about one-fourth
of the total price tag. He has said the city would move
forward with funding the refurbishment only after a
developer steps forward with plans to reuse the
property. Funds collected by the city through any
development, he said, would help West Bend recoup
remaining renovation costs.

Shambeau said last week the city had fielded some new
potential interest from developers, though he said no
specific proposals had materialized yet.